| Year: | 2015 |
| Team: | Softball |
Open up the record books of Suffolk University softball, and there is one name – Jess Ferreira – prominently displayed from one category to another, cover to cover. Establishing herself on the national level while producing more hits than the Beatles, you can clearly see that she is in a class by herself.
Ferreira, a multi-talented shortstop finished up her remarkable career in 2009 being named a Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division III All-American. This marked the second time in her four-year career that she received this honor, as she was named an All-American following her freshman campaign.
As a senior, Ferreira was named Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Player of the Year for the third consecutive season. She finished the year hitting .484, with 10 home runs and 49 runs batted in throughout 40 games.
Her .951 slugging percentage ranked fourth among all NCAA Division III softball players nationwide, while she led the GNAC with seven triples and 10 homers and was second in on-base percentage (.561), total bases (116) and hits (59). In addition, she was named to the NFCA All-Northeast Region first-team, as well as being a first-team All-Conference GNAC selection.
During her freshman season, Ferreira hit .428 with 13 home runs and 58 runs batted in, leading the Rams to a 32-10 record (21-3 in the GNAC) and the conference championship game. She also had 59 hits, scored 50 runs, and a slugging percentage of .826. Defensively, she was superb as well, compiling a .953 fielding percentage.
Ferreira’s final numbers were so spectacular that she has secured a spot in career statistical data among all NCAA Division III softball players to this day. In 155 games, she finished with a .471 batting average (tied 24th all-time), 37 home runs (tied 14th all-time), 194 runs batted in (tied 8th all-time), and 227 career hits. She also boasted a .902 career slugging percentage (7th all-time) and a .531 career on-base percentage. In 2008, she led the nation with a 1.073 slugging percentage.
“Playing softball at Suffolk taught me how to challenge myself and that hard work is an everyday thing,” said the Cambridge native, who now lives in Alexandria, Virginia.
Ferreira was raised by her dad, Rich Ferreira, her number one fan throughout her playing career. She says that he has been her inspiration and that she wouldn’t be where she is today without his love and support.